Mundell handed Secretary of State for Scotland post

David Mundell, the Conservatives’ only MP north of the border, has been appointed Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP, who held on to his seat last week with a slim majority of 798, was promoted as part of the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle.

Mundell, previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, takes over from Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael in the Scotland Office. 

“At a momentous time in our politics we need calm and experienced leadership, and that is exactly what David will bring to this post,” said Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.

“Having worked extensively across both Holyrood and Westminster he is quite simply the right man for the job.

“He will ensure that Scotland’s two governments work well with each other and always in a spirit of mutual respect and co-operation.

“David has been a brilliant MSP and MP for his constituents over the last 16 years and he will now take that same dedication and tireless advocacy to the cabinet table.”

SNP MP Pete Wishart criticised the appointment. “The Tories' share of the vote in Scotland at the General Election - at under 15 per cent - was the lowest they have ever had, while the SNP achieved 56 of Scotland's 59 seats,” he said. 

“The days of business as usual are over, so it is a pity that David Cameron did not take the opportunity to scrap the post-devolution anomaly that is the Scotland Office, and invest the £7m that is spent on it on public services instead.

"David Mundell is the sole representative of a party that was rejected by Scotland in record numbers. It is vital that he respects the mandate of the people of Scotland, expressed so decisively last Thursday.
 
“Scotland voted for a manifesto to end austerity, for more powers for Scotland and against the Tories’ planned welfare cuts – and the UK government simply cannot ignore that."